Orlando City Falls to Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2-1, Eliminates Lions In U.S. Open Cup Play

Despite dominating long stretches of the match, Orlando City SC fell to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2-1 in extra time of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. (Orlando City Image)

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Despite dominating long stretches of the match, Orlando City SC fell to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2-1 in extra time of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. Kevin Molino equalized for City in the 16th minute before Fort Lauderdale defender PC scored in the 120th minute, eliminating the Lions from Open Cup play.

Adrian Heath

“I think we’re all frustrated that we haven’t progressed. We can play better. But we had opportunities and we should’ve won the game,” Lions Head Coach Adrian Heath said.

“I thought [in the] second half, when we got higher up the pitch and put them under pressure, I thought there was only one team that was going to win it. As I said, we had chances to have won the game.”

Fort Lauderdale jumped out to an early lead in the 12th minute when Jose Angulo got in behind the Lions’ back line and fired a shot past goalkeeper Earl Edwards, Jr. to the near post.

The Lions equalized just four minutes later when Molino made a clever, weaving run through the Strikers’ defense and chipping it inside the far post.

Kevin Molino

Molino and Antonio Nocerino showed some great chemistry throughout the half as the Lions continued pressing, almost taking the lead on several occasions.

Edwards Jr. rebounded nicely after the early goal, making a stop late in the half to deflect a Fort Lauderdale header that was going under the bar safely away before coming up with another big save just moments later. He would go on to finish with two saves.

Orlando City came out firing in the second half, as Harrison Heath, Nocerino and Molino all took close-range shots that almost put the Lions ahead.

Forward Guiseppe Gentile came on in the 82nd minute, joining Fort Lauderdale captain Jean-Marc Alexandre as former Lions on the field for the Strikers. Gentile and Alexandre played with City during its days in the United Soccer League. Orlando striker Cyle Larin entered the game just four minutes later in place of Nocerino, who played one of his best games for the Lions.

In second-half stoppage time, Larin made a nice pass to Barry on the wing, who took a touch towards the inside and ripped a shot off the corner of the post. Larin got another good header on late in stoppage time, grazing it over the bar and onto the top netting.

The Lions peppered Strikers’ goalkeeper Diego Restrepo with shots throughout extra time, as Barry, Larin, Kevin Alston and Servando Carrasco all had quality chances.

City dominated extra time, but at the stroke of the 120th minute, Fort Lauderdale defender PC scored the go-ahead goal, putting his team through to the quarterfinals.

Orlando City returns to MLS play on Monday, July 4, when it visits FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET. The Lions return to Camping World Stadium just four days later on Friday, July 8, to host the Houston Dynamo for an 8 p.m. ET kickoff.

Tickets to all City home matches are available at OrlandoCitySC.com or by calling 855-ORL-CITY. Follow the latest Orlando City news and updates via Facebook, Twitter,Instagram and YouTube.